The chat history was unnervingly clean.

No flirtation. No ambiguity. Just files and work reports.

However, I knew Jeremy too well.

He was cautious and addicted to the adrenaline rush.

I opened the 'Annual Listening Report' link and shared it with that two-person group chat.

The very next second, Everly sent a message.

[Jeremy, you were so naughty in the car just now… My lips are all swollen.]

I did not reply and simply deleted the shared link.

...

When Jeremy came out of the shower, he looked refreshed.

"Oh, right, the company's having a team outing this weekend. Everly said she hasn't seen you in a while. You should come, too."

He said it casually while drying his hair.

In the past, he never brought me to those things.

His excuse was always to keep work and personal life separate.

This time, the invitation was probably meant to ease my suspicions.

"Sure."

He paused, clearly surprised at how agreeable I was, then walked over and kissed my forehead.

"That's more like it. Stop overthinking everything."

The moment his lips touched my skin, my stomach churned.

I forced myself not to push him away.

...

That weekend, we went to a resort villa.

When I arrived, Everly was standing right beside Jeremy.

She was wearing a cream-colored knit sweater with a pleated skirt.

It was the sweater I had bought for her just last month.

It cost over 400 dollars. For an intern, it was extravagant.

Back then, she had messaged me, crying about how cold the winter was and how she did not have warm clothes.

My heart had softened…and I sent it to her.

So, she stood there in the clothes that I had bought, beside my boyfriend, smiling brightly.

"Sabrina! I haven't seen you in a while! I've missed you so much!"

The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up. She rushed over and looped her arm through mine affectionately.

She carried the same scent Jeremy had when he came home that night.

A cheap, overly sweet peach fragrance.

Then, she looked me up and down, feigning surprise.

"Sabrina, why are you dressed like this? Jeremy doesn't like this kind of old-fashioned style. I work with him now, so I know his tastes very well."

Her tone was soft, but every word pierced.

I ignored her.

Her intentions were far too obvious.

"Jeremy mentions you a lot, too," I said lightly. "He says you're very capable. Even your taste in music is exactly like his."

Everly's expression stiffened. She instinctively glanced at Jeremy.

He frowned. "Sabrina, don't be sarcastic."

Seeing that I did not respond, Everly dropped the pretense entirely.

She tilted her head, her face innocent.

"These past few years, it's all thanks to your support, Sabrina, that I get to wear such nice clothes. But I should thank Jeremy, too. He said this color makes my skin look fair and...makes me look especially youthful."

She emphasized the word 'youthful,' and her gaze was openly provocative.

My fingertips trembled slightly, a coldness settling deep inside me.

Everly was 21, full of youthful radiance, and her skin was plump and supple.

However, I was only 28, not too far off. In fact, I was successful and still in my prime.

In what way was I inferior to her?

She continued, as if enjoying herself, saying, "Oh, right! Jeremy also said he's going to make me a full-time employee early next month."

Full-time?

Everly was still a senior in college. She had only been at the company for half a month.

I turned to look at Jeremy.

He avoided my gaze, a flicker of guilt passing through his face.

"Everly's been performing well. I'm planning to convert her position to a full-time one next month."

I let out a cold laugh.

She had used my money to buy clothes, slept with my boyfriend, and finally, she was leveraging that relationship to take shortcuts in her career.

What a perfectly calculated move!

The team-building activity was a hike.

All the way up, Everly stayed close to Jeremy, handing him water and wiping his sweat.

Their colleagues teased them.

"Mr. Steward, this intern is more attentive than an assistant!"

Jeremy waved it off with a smile. "She's young and thin-skinned. Please don't joke around like this. My girlfriend's right here."

He glanced back at me, a hint of warning in his eyes, telling me to be understanding.

I walked behind them, watching coldly.

...

Halfway up the mountain, Everly suddenly slipped and fell.

"Ow… It hurts…" She clutched her ankle, eyes brimming with tears.

Jeremy rushed over almost instinctively, crouching down to check on her.

"What's wrong? Did you twist it?"

The concern in his voice was impossible to hide.

"I think it's swollen… I can't walk."

She bit her lip, looking up at him pitifully.

Without hesitation, Jeremy turned his back to her and crouched down.

"Get on. I'll carry you."

The surrounding colleagues exchanged awkward looks.

After all, his 'official girlfriend' was standing right there.

Jeremy seemed to realize it, too. He turned toward me.

"Sabrina, she's injured. We can't just leave her here. You're in good shape. Can you help me carry the bags?"

As he spoke, he tossed both his and Everly's backpacks to me.

They landed heavily in my hands.

I watched as he lifted Everly onto his back.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder.

As they passed me, she glanced at me.

Her eyes were full of smug triumph.

I stood there, watching their retreating figures, and suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of irony.

Three months ago, I had acute appendicitis.

When I called Jeremy, he said he was in a meeting and told me to go to the hospital myself.

I had surgery and ended up staying in the hospital for three days.

He came once, stayed for ten minutes, then left.

"The company's busy. You're an adult. You can take care of yourself."

So it was not that he did not know how to care for someone.

He just did not care for me.

I tossed the two backpacks into the bushes by the side of the path.

Dusting off my hands, I turned and walked down the mountain.

A message from Jeremy popped up.

[Why didn't you follow us? Where are the bags?]

I sent a reply.

[Too heavy. I threw them away.]

...

When I got home, I started packing.

The apartment lease was in both of our names, but most of the rent and living expenses were paid by me.

I folded my clothes and packed them into my suitcase.

As for the things I had given him: the expensive watch, limited-edition sneakers, carefully chosen ties... I found a large box and stuffed them all inside.

Then, I called for a same-city courier and sent the box to a secondhand resale shop.

...

After that, I made a phone call.

"Help me investigate all of Jeremy's expenses over the past six months."

Accounts of love could not be settled clearly between individuals. However, money-wise... Well, I could make things crystal clear about that.

Half an hour later, a detailed bank statement was sent to my phone.

I opened it.

The more I scrolled, the colder I felt.

Line after line of transactions, all were transfers to Everly.

[November 11: Transfer of 1000 dollars.]

[December 1: Luxury jewelry store spending of 2000 dollars.]

[December 24: Hot spring hotel suite booking for 700 dollars.]

Even Everly's daily rides and food deliveries were paid through a family card linked to Jeremy.

I laughed in anger, the last trace of warmth in my eyes completely gone.

...

That night, when Jeremy came home, he immediately noticed something was wrong.

The cozy apartment had turned cold and empty.

Everything that belonged to me was gone.

He looked unsettled.

He turned to me and asked, "Sabrina… What's going on? Are you going on a trip?"

I sat on the sofa and looked up at him.

"Jeremy, let's break up."